Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: To address the critical challenges of severe fragmentation in cuttings, persistent cuttings bed accumulation, and abrupt friction torque increases during horizontal well drilling of Jurassic continental shale oil formations in J Block, Sichuan Basin—rooted in the unique high clay content that induces colloidal stability of fine cuttings and resistance to conventional cleaning—this study innovatively proposes a coupled prevention–removal hole-cleaning technology. The core methodology integrates three synergistic components: (1) orthogonal numerical simulations to optimize drilling parameters, reducing the cuttings input rate by 43.48% through “hydraulic carrying + mechanical agitation” synergy; (2) a modified Moore model with horizontal section correction factors to quantify slip velocity of cuttings, lowering the prediction error from ±20% to ±5%; and (3) a helical groove cutting removal sub with 60 m optimal spacing, enhancing local turbulence intensity by 42% to disrupt residual cuttings bed. Field validation in Well J110-8-1H demonstrated remarkable improvements: a 50% reduction in sliding friction, a 25% decrease in rotational torque, and 40% shortening of the drilling cycle. This integrated technology fills the gap in addressing the “fragmentation–colloidal stability” dilemma in shale with high clay contents, providing a quantifiable solution for safe and efficient drilling in similar continental formations.
Source: Processes
DOI: 10.3390/pr13082604
Authors: Dong Yang, Xin Song, Yingjian Xie, Jianli Liu, Hu Han, Qiao Deng, Hao Geng
Language: English
Subfield: Ocean Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4413286148